Leading airlines from Japan, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have suspended flights to airports across the United States after expressing concern over the development of 5G.
Emirates, Air India, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways canceled flights to New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Seattle, among other US cities.
Air India announced on Tuesday that it would no longer operate flights the next day to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Chicago O'Hare Intl Airport and Newark Liberty Intl Airport. Jersey "because of the growth of 5G Communications in the US."
#FlyAI: Due to deployment of the 5G communications in USA, we will not be able to operate the following flights of 19th Jan'22:
AI101 / 102 DEL / JFK / DEL
AI173 / 174 DEL / SFO / DEL
AI127 / 126 DEL / ORD / DEL
AI191 / 144 BOM / EWR / BOMPlease stand by for further updates.https://t.co/Cue4oHChwx
- Air India (@airindiain) January 18, 2022
On the same day, Emirates canceled flights to at least nine US cities, again "due to operational concerns related to the planned development of 5G mobile network services in the US", while Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways canceled at least 13 flights.
According to RT, the airlines and the FAA have repeatedly expressed concerns about 5G in C-zone, which could disrupt the aircraft's instruments, namely radio altitudes. So far, the U.S. Air Force has cleared less than half of the country's merchant fleet for low-visibility landings at airports that may be affected by 5G interference. International airlines were also severely affected, with All Nippon Airways saying that while Boeing 787s could operate under the new guidelines, 777s could not.
In response to the concerns, AT&T and Verizon on Wednesday postponed the launch of 5G service near some airports, but not all.
Verizon joins AT&T in delaying some 5G deployments near airports when it turns on its newest version of 5G service tomorrow as both companies work with the FAA and airlines on concerns over possible interference. pic.twitter.com/Dtdm7wJ0qa
- CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 18, 2022
Airlines For America warned the White House this week that US trade would "stop" if growth was not delayed and that "the vast majority of the travel and shipping public would be virtually immobilized."
"This means that on a day like yesterday, more than 1.100 flights and 100.000 passengers will be subject to cancellations, diversions or delays," the organization said.